Centrifugal casting machine



July 23, 1935.

w. D. SARGENT El AL 2,009,025

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE I Filed June 11, '1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS mam/1.6213101; 5 14 ZYIZIE ATTORN 5 July 23, 1935. w. D. SARGENT ET AL CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1931 I mmvrons az yan Fifi/11ml deb/er BY m w g ATTOR E176 Patented July 23, 1935 2,009,025

CENTRIEUGAL CASTING MACHINE William D. Sargent, New York, N. Y., and William A. Geisler, Newark, N. J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Durafer '(Inc.), Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application June 11, 1931, Serial No. 543,511

8 Claims. (01. 22-65) The present invention relates to devices for and means movable with the bottom plate for moulding molten metal in a centrifugal machine ng he mould. More pa t u in the and embodies, more specifically, animproved form preferred embodiment the object is-to provide of centrifugal mould wherein the metal is cast an electric motor mounted with the plate and in a centrifugal mould without the use of a core. movable therewith for rotating the plate and 5 More particularly, the invention relates to cenmould when the two are engaged. trifugal moulding mechanism, wherein molten A further object of the invention is to provide metal is introduced into a centrifugal mould electric means consisting of an electromagnet which is rapidly rotated about a vertical axis, for coupling the plate and mould during casting.

10 the metal being directed into the mould matrix A further object of the invention is to provide 10 in orderthat the centrifugal action of the mould a counterbalance for the driving motor and plate may cause the metal to flow uniformly therein whereby they may be raised and lowered into and and harden during the continued rotation of the out of engagement with the mould with minimum mould, thus dispensing with theuse of a core. expenditure of power from an independentsource.

Recently developed moulding mechanisms have In accordance with the improved method of 15 provided rotating permanent moulds, wherein casting metal is introduced into the mould cenpermanent cores are utilized, these cores being tra lly thereof and thence thrown out radially to removed when the metal solidifies to permit the the mould or matrix, the centrifugal force excast article to be removed from the moud. erted on the metal by the rotating mould causing To simplify the moulding mechanism, as well the same to flow into the recess. vTo direct the 20 as the moulding operation, the present invention metal radially as thus poured the bottom plate of has been designed and an object thereof is to the mould is preferably formed with a conical provide a centrifugal permanent mould which deflector from which extend radiant ribs prefer-' functions without the use of a core. ably curved to-assist in the proper distribution A further object of the invention is to provide of the metal. v 25 a mould of the above character having means With'a view to describing the invention more carried thereby to introduce the molten metal fully, reference will now be made to the accominto the matrix of the mould during rotation panying drawings, wherein: thereof. Figure 1 is a sectional view in elevation, taken A further object of the invention is to provide, on line |l of Figure 2, and iooking in the 0 in a mould of the above character, means for direction of thearrows. effectively removing the casting from the mould. Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown In accordance with the invention the interior in Figure 1.

w of the mouldis provided with a recess, the width Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary detailed secof which determines the axial dimensions of the tional views of the supporting rollers for the 5 article cast and the depth of which determines mould taken on the plane indicated by the lines the radial dimension of the article cast. Ac- 3 3 and 44, respectively, of Figure 2 and lookcordingly, it is a further object of the invention ing in the direction of the arrows. to provide for centrifugal casting in a mould Referring to the drawings the operative parts 40 in which the dimensions of the article are de- -of the machine may be mounted on a vertically 40 termined by the interior of the mould and also disposed hollow base a at the top of which are to provide for the throwing out of excess metal supported a series of spaced rollers b and c to from the mould. This object is attained by leavcarry the rotatable table at for the mould as will ing the top of the mould open and permitting the later appear. Someof these rollers b may have excess metal to be thrown out through such opentheir axes inclined and engage-the table d at an 45 ing under centrifugal action after the article has angle so as to support the load effectively and been formedof predetermined thickness. also contribute to. thrust resistance. The other- A further object of the invention is to provide rollers 0 may be supported on horizontal axes and in .a centrifugal casting machine in which the engage .aperipheral flange d at the lower edge mould rotates on a vertical axis, a bottom plate of the table 11, a bead c on these rollers engaging 50 for the mould in combination with means for the edge of the flange d to resist thrust. The raising and lowering the bottom plate into and table (1 has secured thereto a ring e on which, out of engagement with mould, means for serests loosely the mould e. The mould is formed curing the bottom plate to the mould when enwith a horizontal circular flange e at the outer I 56 gaged therewith, during the casting operation, edge of whichis a lip e for engagement with a the magnet hereinafter described. The top edge of the mould may have secured thereto or formed therewith a ring e of smaller diameter than the mould, the ring serving as a retaining wall for the metal and determining the radial thickness thereof. The metal may be introduced into the mould through the open upper end thereof in any suitable manner, there being illustrated for convenience a traveling ladle I, the discharge of metal therefrom being controlled, as by some suitable valve such as f. The table d supporting the mould e also supports a circular battle y spaced from the table and in proper relation to the top flange e of the mould, the purpose of the baflle 9 being to confine and deflectany surplus metal that is thrown out of the mould.

The bottom plate for the mould is illustrated at h. This plate is adapted to be raised into engagement with the mould and secured thereto during casting and lowered away therefrom with the casting after the operation is completed. On this bottom plate is preferably formed, in accordance with the invention, a central deflector h illustrated as a cone. Extending outwardly from this deflector h are a plurality of ribs h which themselves may be curved to' disperse and direct the metal to the periphery of the mould and into the recess in the periphery formed by the flange e. The action of the cone and ribs is to cause the metal to flow outwardly and into the matrix of the mould with uniformity and to take a generally tangential direction when building up in the matrix, thereby better assuring a homogeneous, dense casting. The edge of the plate It is preferably tapered as at h for snug engagement with a tapered ring e carried with the mould so that when the plate is brought into operative relation to the mould a secure union may be effected.

While the invention in'its broader aspects is not to be limited to the particular means used for securing the bottom plate to the mould during casting, improved electromagnetic devices for accomplishing this both simply and expeditiously are shown. Referring to Figure 1 thereis illustrated a vertically movable ram 2' adapted to be raised and lowered by, any suitable power means such as an electric motor 7c geared operatively with the ram .as through shafting k and a pinion It and rack i, the latter being illustrated in dotted lines but quite evident to the skilled mechanic. 0n the ram is mounted a motor I having a vertically disposed armature concentric with the axis of the mould e. The motor shaft 1' of this motor 1 supports an electromagnet P which may be generally circular in form and on-this' electromagnet is supported the plate It. The magnet coil is indicated at l. The invention is not concerned with the details of the electrical construction and connections it being suflicient that suitable wiring be provided to control the operation of the motor I and to. energize the mag- I net coil I when and as desired, while permitting vertical movement of the motor and the coil with the ram. Electrical connections for the coil are indicated diagrammatically at l.

To counterbalance the weight of the motor 1 and associated parts as described there has been shown a weighted ring m supported by cables m extending over pulleys a and connected to the ram. The pulleys a may be journaled in brackets secured to the base a. This counterbalance is such as to enable all of the parts to be raised and lowered with minimum power by the motor 1:.

The method'of casting will now be described. The motor It will be operated to raise the ram and its parts until the plate h is engaged with the ring e When the coil 1? is energized the magnetic field will effectively couple the rotor F. plate It, mould flange e and ring e With the parts thus coupled rotation of the armature 1' will impart rotative movement to all of the interconnected parts which, as pointed out hereinbefore, are supported rotatably by the bearing of the table d on the rollers b. Metal introduced centrally into the mould along its axis will be thrown out radially along the plate, the action being assisted by the cone h and ribs h and the metal will build up in the recess of the periphery of the mould e until-it extends beyond the face of theretaining flange e whereupon excess metal will be thrown out of the central opening against the bafiie g. The casting being completed rotation of the motor 1 may be stopped, the coil 1 deenergized and the motor is operated to pull the plate It downwardly away from the mould or to permit gravity to do so depending on the balance of the parts. The casting .will drop with the plate since the plate constitutes the other confining wall for the recess in the mould.

The excess metal thrown from the' mould and deflected downwardly by the baffle gmay run off of the tabled within the shield g which is formed with openings g for the escape of any such metal.

It will be evident that the course of the metal under the influence of centrifugal force is such that it will build up in the recess from the bottom plate until its upward travel is checked by the circular flange e. The speed of rotation is such as to create constantly a centrifugal force'sufflcient to cause this continuous building up from the bottom plate to the flange. When the recess is thus completely filled with metal its thickness from the bottom edge to the top will be substantially uniform, the speed of rotation of the mould being such as to accomplish this desired condition. Any excess metal will travel over the inner edge of the flange e and be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force. Thus, under prac-- tical operating conditions of speed it is possible to cast a ring of predetermined dimensions, the distance between the bottom plate and the flange e determining the axial dimension, and the widthof the flange e' determining the radial dimension.

From the description given it will be understood that the parts considered in combination are simple in construction, effective in action to facilitate the quick and uninterrupted casting without a core of circular articles the cross sectional form and dimensions of which will depend on the periphery. of the mould. The introduction of the 'metal centrally of the mould along its axis will tions may be made without departing from the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A vertical axis rotatable mould having a peripheral moulding recess formed with a shoulder which defines the axial and radial dimensions of the casting and having the interior thereof open, and a circular baiile mounted to rotate with said mould and arranged in the plane of the top of the mould to catch and redirect overflow from said mould.

2. A vertical axis rotatable mould having a peripheral moulding recess formed with a shoulder which defines the radial thickness of the casting and having the interior thereof open, said mould having a removable bottom, a top opening in the mould through which metal is received adjacent the axis of the mould and a circular bailie rotatable with the mould arranged in the plane of the mould top to deflect overflow from the mould.

3. Casting machine, comprising a mould, means to mount the mould rotatably on a vertical axis, a table mounted on a rotatable motor, means to secure the table to the mould, acounterweight to counterbalance the weight of the rotatable motor and table, and independent means by which to apply power to raise and lower the rotatable motor and table.

4. Casting machine, comprising a mould, means to mount the mould rotatably on a vertical axis, a plate mounted ona rotatable motor, electro-magnetic means to secure the plate to the mould, a counterweight to counterbalance the weight of the rotatable motor and table, and independent means by which to apply power to raise and lower the rotatable motor and table.

5. In a casting machine a mould, means to support the mould on a table for rotation about a vertical axis, said table having a central aperture, exposing the bottom oi said mould a bottom plate adapted to be received in said aperture for the mould and electromagnetic means to couple the mould and bottom plate releasably.

6. In a casting machine a mould, means to support the mould on a table. for rotation about a vertical axis, said table having a central aperture, exposing the bottom of said mould a bottom plate adapted to be received in said aperture for the mould, electromagnetic means to couple the mould and bottom plate releasably, and an electric motor magnetically coupled to the said bottom plate to rotate the plate and mould. K

7. A rotatable coreless mould adapted to rotate upon a vertical axis and formed with a peripheral recess defining the axial radial dimensions of the casting and means to introduce metal into the recess, and an annular baiile rotatable with the mould surrounding the top of said mould to deflect overflow therefrom, whereby an excess of material may be placed in the mould and subsequently overflowed to assure a radial casting dimension equal to the depth of the peripheral recess.

8. In a vertical centrifugal casting machine, a mould, a rotating table to which said mould is secured, a conical guard carried by said table of greater diameter than the mould and substantially in a plane with the top of said mould to deflect flying particles downwardly on said table, and a second stationary guard around said table adapted to deflect particles thrown from said table.

WILLIAM D. SARGENT. WILLIAM A. GEISIER.

CERTIFICATE OF- CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,009,025. July 23, 1935.

WILLIAM D. SARGENT, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line 19, for "moud" read mould; line 53, after "with" insert the;

page 3, second column, line 17, claim 7, after "axial" insert and; line 18, same claim, strike out "and" before "means"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read. with'these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of December, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdal-e (Seal) v Acting flommissioner of Patents, 

